The Saline County journal. [volume] (Salina, Kan.) 1871-1893, 1887-11-10
az ELFPHANT sIoRY.
A Singular sight EajoTsd Fron tire FaIas
~ Mandaiay.


~ Mandaiay.
Many we're the sights I witnessed IN
and ont Of the Palsse Mandalay; but
nothing struck my attention 80 much
as the number Of trained elephants.
lately belonging to the dePOsed mon
arch. and the splendid quarters in
which they we're located. and my sur
prise was still more increased when
was introduced 70. and sniered into
conversation with the gentleman WIN
presided over this extensive establish
meak He turned out r. be a real
native Of the Isle Of Wight The white
OF mouse-cOlorsd elephant was there,
Of course; but ''hOW are the mighty
fallen" He was no longer in a mag
nificent pavilion. alone in his grandeur.
surrounded By many servitnTs Of the
king; on the contrary. be was in a
stall like the rest Of the beasts, and. II
any thing. less noticed than many Of
his finer brethren. One more Anacdose
about this wonderful beast. and have
done with elephants. Shortly before
our arrival. one Of those sninSls hsd
grestly disgrsccd himself By refusing to
carry 8 certain weight Of goods which
had been piled on his back. There is
the regulation weight and the beasts
know 70 an ounce what they ought 10
carry. and Il any OF tue mahnuts at
tempt TO pat q surplus amount on bis oi
their backs Il i Immediately shot onto
the ground. The animal in question
had been duly laden with g weight
which was under the regulation scale:
but although ithad been twl, weighed.
as Mrs. Camp would say. i,efOre hi
own eyes. he still refused TO carry L.
This Was too much for even his lndul.
gent driver. so he accordingly To
ported. and just So we arrived no wa
about % be tried for bis extraordinary
and obstinate conduct Several ele-
plants were led out Into large court
yard. forming q kind Of circle srouuu
the delinquent. who seemed already {"
feel his position aeutely. for he glanced
aHxiously from time 10 time at his
mahouL who was visibly affected and
who stood BY his hoad A karen pre-
sided over the Court-msrtlal. aud rea !
aloud the indictment against the
offended. the elephants which consti-
tuted the jury apparently listening
With great attention. After the state
msnt was finished and the mshout
examined. who BY the way. gave his
evidence with great reluctance. the
karen decided that the case had been
distinctly proved. and the oulprit was
sdiudged the punishment Of twenty
StrOkeA Upon the announcement Of the
verdict, the jury marched in . most sol
emu manner 70 adistsnt part Of the yard
and returned with = switch about a.
large as q fair sized scsdOld pole. In
the meantime the mahOut had been ad-
dressing the offender. who was now
weeping coPiously, large drops Of tears
falling from his eyes, and occasionally
q shrill and peculiar sound issued from
his capaeiOus thrOat The execudoners
Of the law were at hand. and stood
about twelve 70 fourteen feet apart. eseh
balancing with peculiar nicely In his
trunk the aforesaid switch. The Gull
prit was led up Do the place. and as he
passed number one there was = sound
which resembled somewhat n sharp
clap Of thundei It Was the first blow
delivered by the dread myrmidons Of
the law. The blow was followed By q
sharp shrill scream. although there
was evidently 50 attempt on the part
Of the culprit 10 suppress any exhibit
ton Of pain. This punishment con-
tinued until the whole Of the sentence
had been carried out: Although l felt
considerable sympathy with the unfor-
tunste delinquent was at the same
time intensely amused with the thor
ough business-like air with which these
ministers Of justice carried out the SEN
tehce, There we're no light blows de-
livered; but ~ q matter Of fact, each
elephant determined to administer .
heavier amount Of punishment than his
and the sis twinkle in the
eye a. the blow Was delivered was .
sight % see.-PTimrose Aa0asias